In the Making...

I love my stitch markers. I've been posting images of all the uses for stitch markers on Instagram/Facebook and I'll be putting them all together in this blog post, so it's easy to refer back to.  Stitch Marker Use #1 - Mark the beginning of the round This one is fairly obvious use. If working in the round, you need to know where the beginning is. Where to put the marker: On the needles is easiest. Just be careful not to knit them in, by making sure that any extra part of the stitch marker is on the opposite side to your yarn when you work past it. If you struggle with knitting in your markers, round ones are best. Stitch Marker Use #2 - Written in the Pattern As with my pattern, Barque , a lot of patterns include the use of markers in the instructions. A clear pattern will tell you when to place them, when to slip them and when you can take them out again. Designers use markers in the instructions to simplify the pattern. I could spell out to you every row or I can just sa...

Some people really don't like Kitchener Stitch. I'm not one of those people. I think it's a little bit like magic that you can replicate a knitting stitch with a darning needle. A lot of the time people don't like the ears that you can get on sock toes, or having to concentrate the entire time that they're doing it, or if they lose their place, it can all go quite wrong. I'm hoping this video will make it easier, more efficient and more fool-proof - plus no ears! Main features No ears i.e. nice smooth toes Figure out where you are Make it easier by using the darning needle to remove the stitches Work each needle movements in pairs If any of those features sound helpful, check out the video xx

Another new pattern is released today. Meet Ammil. Ammil is an airy and wintery shawl, made using mohair lace yarn and edged in clear beads reminiscent of ice crystals. Written in multiple sizes, so you can choose the perfect size for your yarn. The beading is optional but they do add a little bit of weight to the edge, which makes the shawl drape beautifully. Ammil was, originally, released for A Good Yarn's Christmas Eve Box. Since the cold winter season and crystal sparkles were the main focus of the design, I named it Ammil, which means "the thin film of ice that lacquers all leaves, twigs and blades of grass when a freeze follows a partial thaw". My preference for wearing crescent shawls is bandana-style around the neck but you can always wear it in the traditional style around the shoulders. Ammil uses Rowan Kidsilk Haze, which is a mohair and silk mix. There are a range of sizes that uses either 2 or 3 balls of Kidsilk Haze. For an introductory discount, use AMMIL...

Have you used an i-cord cast off and been a little disappointed that it has no give? I have.  First things, first. What is this I-cord that you speak of? Believe it or not, the "I" stands for "Idiot" and was named by the influential Elizabeth Zimmerman. You might recognise it as "French Knitting" that many of us made as children using a bobbin and a needle. I-cord can be made on its own and used for lots of different things but I wanted to discuss the use of it when attached to other knitting. It's most commonly called "applied I-cord" when used in this way. For example, you can finish off a project around the edge with applied I-cord. One of my most recent projects that I completed, Vertices Unite, is finished in this way. The basic idea is that stitches are picked up all the way around the edge you want to finish and then you cast on a few more and use these to knit an I-cord and cast off. Here's an example, once you pick up stitches, c...

Field & Lea is inspired by nature and includes inspiration such as dandelions, bluebells and fields. Colour and texture are the core part of Field & Lea. The mood board below was the inspiration that I was working to. It uses two strands of 4ply / fingering marled together throughout, which allows the colours to play a big part in the design. You could easily use stash yarn and your creativity to knit your own. The pattern was designed, originally, for a mystery KAL with A Good Yarn, Cleethorpes , so it is separated into 4 distinct parts. The yarn is two strands of 4ply held together, which creates fun, marled colours but you could easily swap this for a worsted weight yarn, if you prefer. There's a lot of knit and purl texture involved, so it's a simple enough knit but the changing patterns and use of colour means that you don't get bored.  There are a couple of interesting but relatively simple texture techniques in the pattern and there are several video tutor...

So a new pattern. Meet Yarra, a gorgeous lace stole worked in two identical pieces, so the pretty Estonian lace edge is shown to its best. Designed in 6 sections using different lace skills but joined by relaxing knit and purl sections for an enjoyable knit.  The “Yarra” name comes from A Good Yarn, which sits at the corner of Oole and Yarra Road. Originally designed for Lace Club 2020 at A Good Yarn, Cleethorpes. The yarn used in the wrap is the sumptuous and silky Fyberspates Scrumptious 4Ply . It is a mix of merino and silk and has the most heavenly drape, which is perfect for a decadent lace wrap. The main sample uses Seafoam and Magenta. The original sample that I made used Pearl and Mulberry for a softer and more traditional colour palette.  The wrap is designed to use different lace techniques but they are only done in small sections that are separated by restful knit and purl. My most favourite part of the shawl is the edging, which uses traditional Estonian stitches t...

You said free? Why, yes I did. Winter Grove is a cute and simple tree pattern. Perfect for this time of year, whether you want to make a table centre or a hanging ornament.  The biggest tree in the pattern is done using the helical knitting technique. Can you tell I'm all about the helical knitting at the minute? There's videos and a few tips within the pattern too, so hopefully enough info to give it a go if you've never tried it before. If you want a bit more info and want to try it on socks, then try out Scrapix - the Scrappy Helix sock pattern that I released last week. If helical knitting doesn't interest you then there are variations to try. Whether, they're striped, colour-blocked or just plain. The yarn used in the pattern is Baa Ram Ewe Pip Anyway, get yourself a free tree !